[Family therapy appropriate even in somatic care. Study review of medically oriented family therapy]

By observing and analyzing the influence of the therapist on the family as well as interactions between family members, the encounter with a family in a medical setting can serve to improve the health of its members, by improving their ability to use their own resources. This method of focusing on the interaction between individuals in a family or other systems has been a valuable addition to medical treatment of chronic disease. Family therapy has been shown to effectively improve treatment of diabetes, asthma and obesity. A review of the literature is presented.